The Lansford Historical Society received recognition and a 2025 grant award for its work to save and preserve the historic Welsh Church on West Abbott Street.

The Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office recognized the historical society for its stewardship and preservation efforts with its Community Initiative Award for 2024.

The society was one of two recipients with a project demonstrating the importance of embracing and preserving local history and the places that help tell their communities’ stories.

The society also received a $7,500 Tourism Impact Grant from the Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau for restoration work on the church, which dates to the 1850s.

The church, built on land donated by the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company, is the second oldest Welsh Congregational Church in the state and has held an important place in the local community for 175 years.

The congregation and its preservation society restored the church in 1985, but a 2009 fire left significant exterior and interior damage.

In 2018, after learning that the church was slated for imminent demolition, the Lansford Historical Society mobilized its resources to purchase the building and begin stabilization work.

Over the past several years, the society has invested in stabilizing and restoring the Welsh Church and reconnecting the community with the local landmark.

The society continues to raise funds to complete the church restoration and share its work at events like the North American Festival of Wales.

The community initiative awards recognize the hard work and dedication of outstanding organizations, municipalities, agencies and individuals whose work embodies the theme of Pennsylvania’s statewide historic preservation plan.

The plan provides a framework of activities and goals that will help Pennsylvanians better understand historic preservation and its benefits; foster appreciation for Pennsylvania’s rich history and shared heritage as told through historic places; and guide communities in balancing historic preservation and economic development for sustainable change.

The PMVB’s Tourism Impact Grant is derived from revenues from the hotel and occupancy taxes collected in Carbon, Wayne, Pike and Monroe counties.